The Light of the Fireflies

Neniu kovrilo — The Light of the Fireflies (Paperback, 2016, Amazon Crossing)

Poŝlibro, 336 paĝoj

Eldonita je 1-a de aprilo 2016 de Amazon Crossing.

ISBN:: 978-1-5039-3354-5

(1 recenzo)

For his whole life, the boy has lived underground, in a basement with his parents, grandmother, sister, and brother. Before he was born, his family was disfigured by a fire. His sister wears a white mask to cover her burns.

He spends his hours with his cactus, reading his book on insects, or touching the one ray of sunlight that filters in through a crack in the ceiling. Ever since his sister had a baby, everyone’s been acting very strangely. The boy begins to wonder why they never say who the father is, about what happened before his own birth, about why they’re shut away.

A few days ago, some fireflies arrived in the basement. His grandma said, There’s no creature more amazing than one that can make its own light. That light makes the boy want to escape, to know the outside world. Problem is, all the doors are …

For his whole life, the boy has lived underground, in a basement with his parents, grandmother, sister, and brother. Before he was born, his family was disfigured by a fire. His sister wears a white mask to cover her burns.

He spends his hours with his cactus, reading his book on insects, or touching the one ray of sunlight that filters in through a crack in the ceiling. Ever since his sister had a baby, everyone’s been acting very strangely. The boy begins to wonder why they never say who the father is, about what happened before his own birth, about why they’re shut away.

A few days ago, some fireflies arrived in the basement. His grandma said, There’s no creature more amazing than one that can make its own light. That light makes the boy want to escape, to know the outside world. Problem is, all the doors are locked. And he doesn’t know how to get out…

1 eldono

Stephanie Jane recenzis The Light of the Fireflies de Paul Pen

An exciting read

4 steloj

I read Daniela at Bookiverse's enthusiastic review of The Light Of The Fireflies a while ago which reminded me that I had this novel awaiting reading. I actually borrowed it from my partner through our linked Amazon accounts and he had been critical of the story's overall plausibility so I went into reading the book with a middling level of expectation!

This is certainly a gripping thriller. I loved Pen's descriptions of the family and their underground existence. Telling the story from different time points worked well for me. We think we understand what has happened to force this family into such extreme circumstances, but then a jump back in time reveals far darker events. I could see where my OH would have stepped back from believing, however by simply accepting that these parents could have made such an outrageous decision, I could remain invested in what they did. It …

I read Daniela at Bookiverse's enthusiastic review of The Light Of The Fireflies a while ago which reminded me that I had this novel awaiting reading. I actually borrowed it from my partner through our linked Amazon accounts and he had been critical of the story's overall plausibility so I went into reading the book with a middling level of expectation!

This is certainly a gripping thriller. I loved Pen's descriptions of the family and their underground existence. Telling the story from different time points worked well for me. We think we understand what has happened to force this family into such extreme circumstances, but then a jump back in time reveals far darker events. I could see where my OH would have stepped back from believing, however by simply accepting that these parents could have made such an outrageous decision, I could remain invested in what they did. It is shocking to imagine how people could be driven to such lengths and I especially hated how the parents treated their daughter. At times I think this novel could be considered a horror book. There were plenty of breathtaking and scary moments for me and I begrudged occasionally having to set the book aside because I was so eager to find out how everything would be resolved.

Thinking back now in order to write this review I accept that there are hang-on-a-minute aspects that didn't quite sit right and I could have done without the final section altogether. Despite that though, The Light Of The Fireflies is an exciting novel and unlike anything I usually read so I appreciated its novelty.